
Unlike Call of Duty, Nintendo fans have had zero exposure to EA's Battlefield franchise, with the series mostly focusing on large-scale, 'AAA' releases on Sony and Microsoft's console platforms alongside PC. There's nothing to firmly suggest that this will change anytime soon, but thanks too a recent IGN inteview with Respawn Entertainment's Vince Zampella, there may be some hope that the franchise could see a release on Nintendo's eventual Switch successor.
Now, it's important to make clear that Zampella does not comment on the 'Switch 2' specifically, noting that it "isn't announced and it doesn't exist". However, his praise for Nintendo certainly leaves the door open to some future partnerships when the new hardware finally sees the light of day.
Here's exactly what he had to say when asked about Battlefield's potential release on 'Switch 2':
"I mean, since [Switch 2] isn't announced and it doesn't exist, I can't really comment on that. But I would say absolutely, Nintendo, along with Microsoft and Sony are great partners for us, are important to us on our business at EA, at Respawn, would love to see it. We don't have anything to announce, but is there a world? Sure. We love them as partners. They've been great to us. I love the [Switch]."
The interview at large proved an opportunity for Zampella to tease the new direction for the Battlefield franchise after the disappointing reception to Battlefield 2042. As indicated by the concept art depicted above, the upcoming game will return to a modern day setting, with Zampella pointing to Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 as key inspirations.
Zampella also acknowledges that one of the biggest issues with 2042 was its overwhelming 128-player maps. As such, the team is designing the next Battlefield to be more akin to earlier entries in which the player count would top out at 64, resulting in slightly more compact, well-designed levels.
We'll have to wait and see if EA plans to bring the Battlefield franchise to the Switch 2, but Zampella's comments certainly give us hope. Indeed, Microsoft's legal commitment to bring the Call of Duty franchise to Nintendo platforms may also give EA a bit of a nudge to follow suit.
Would you like to see the Battlefield franchise on the 'Switch 2'? Have you played it on other systems? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.
[source ign.com]
Comments 27
While most EA games don't interest me personally I'm curious to see what they're going to bring to Switch 2 and certainly hope their support will be better compared to Switch!
As I grow older, rapidly decaying towards my grave, it feels like Battlefield and COD games pass me by just as quickly as the seasons do. I really enjoyed 1942, Vietnam and some of the more modern games (like Bad Company), but have completely lost interest in recent years due to personal time commitments somewhere else and a very stale feeling of "more of the same just with added political bias".
But yeah, I'm eying this one.
I’m kinda surprised Jedi: Fallen Order never got a Switch port. It can likely run the game well enough and it came to Stadia after all. I hooe this means EA will support Switch more in the future (and maybe bring Popcap games back in grand fashion).
EA can say whatever they like but I'm still not buying any of their games on any of my systems.
Yeah, the story goes that many 3rd party companies are sticking hard with Nintendo to compensate their lack of support during the early days of the Switch.
@BenAV Aww, but you'll miss out on all the micro-transactions and live service games.
Battlefield 3 and Crysis 3 were ported to Wii U, but were never released.
Wii U had 2 day 1 Call of Duty releases.
Both of them had Wii U exclusive features also for online PvP.
I remember they even added some free maps on Wii U, 2 years after release.
Anyway. Switch 2 will probably get Call of Duty 2025, so i guess it may get Battlefield too.
@Kyloctopus Not surprised it didn’t come to Switch…it doesn’t even run great on Steam Deck
I'd rather have something Medal of Honor revisited on Switch itself, but hey. Hot Pursuit and Burnout Paradise, Neighborville and Unravel Two, Lost in Random and It Takes Two - EA's had a pretty damn worthwhile presence at the hybrid queen's court by now.
Just a reminder that 10 years ago, EA was calling Nintendo a joke.
@batmanbud2 That was during the Wii U era...so they weren't exactly wrong. I say that as somebody who still has a Wii U (and play it more than my Xbox Series console)
I would like to see ea bring dragon age come to switch 1 or 2
And a new road rash
@batmanbud2 That's not entirely what happened. Frostbite which is a proprietary of EA, sent a tweet from the Frostbite offical account in what were mean spirited April Fools jokes.
EA the company did not find the humor in them and ordered the tweets to be taken down immediately and apologized to Nintendo.
I'm not defending EA here, but on that day some jokesters slipped through the cracks and engaged in mean spirited humor. EA had already said it would support the WII U at the time, so it would be unprofessional of them to go out their way to mock a potential future partner, not to mention foolish (Nintendo is a billion dollar corporation after all).
I hope the new system gets Madden….
Couldn't care less about EA, or Battlefield. If I wanted to play anything from EA, I'd probably choose to play on PC. But I can't even recall the last EA game I played... probably Mass Effect 3.
Well then just surprise us EA! I don‘t have much hope when it comes to this company.
How exciting!!! another 'unprecedented partnership with EA' Just like the Wiiu's!
If they bring battlefield to switch 2 i will buy it day one. Same as call of duty games.
EA's love of Nintendo and their consoles shines brightly with their stellar support of their systems over the years. EA's commitment to Nintendo is exemplified in...Ok..umm....ugh.. I just can't do it... Sorry, it's just....ok..I'm lying.
I'm glad EA did not litter the Switch with them garbage Madden games, makes it more easier to find the good games.
I really want to enjoy a new Battlefield again. Vince Zampella has worked on some of my favorite shooters of all time, and he's already saying the right things (bye-bye specialists; the new game is inspired by BF3 and 4) about this one, so I'm hopeful.
But I didn't like Hardline, One, 5, 2042, or any of the other Battlefields that have come out since 4 (just in case I'm missing any ). Which is why my group was still playing 4 through 2022.
Of course, CoD has been equally disappointing since BO2 (AW was all right, I guess). I used to look forward to both every year. They used to be some of my favorite franchises...
Forgive me for digressing. The grieving process is a long one!
This give me Wii U flashbacks lol
If Nintendo can manage decent online connectivity and voice chat + we get Battlefield on switch, I literally will never need another console again.
Didn't they do the same prior to the reveal of NX? I mean it was better than Wii U support but not exactly expansive.
I just need a Titanfall 1 remake on Switch 2! Titanfall 2 was too derivative mechanically, emulating CoD too much. And player movement was slower than the first game. Map design was better as well in T1. All it needed was more content and a larger player base! And I think a fresh reboot on Switch 2 could check all those boxes.
I'm good. I played BF4 when I first got my PS4 and... I feel I've pretty much played them all now.
Maybe FINALLY another Madden. Or NCAA football would be even better.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...